July 2013

Newsletter Publication of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

I appreciate this opportunity to inform readers about the many prevention programs and public initiatives that we offer through the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office.  In this issue, you will learn more about our Test Don't Guess, Car Seat Safety Check and Operation Safe Child initiatives, among other news and events.  I have also included some summertime vacation tips.

I welcome your suggestions, photos and story ideas for upcoming issues. Send me an email anytime.

VINCENT  F. DeMARCO
Suffolk County Sheriff

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office welcomed 36 new recruits to the rank of Correction Officer during a graduation ceremony held at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue on June 14th.

As recent recruits of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Academy Bureau, the new officers successfully navigated the academy’s rigorous thirteen week training program for the right to take their place among the other distinguished members of the Suffolk County Correction Officers.

During their academy instruction, all officer candidates are required to successfully complete a variety of classroom and field instruction including, but not limited to, firearm safety and handling, defensive tactics, emergency medical training and a rigorous program of physical fitness and testing.

Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent F. DeMarco spoke at the ceremony and reinforced the importance of their work during his speech:  “Not only do I believe you will be challenged in your new career in Corrections, but you will come to learn that the Suffolk County Correctional Facility is an innovative and progressive environment to work in.”  He added, “As Correction Officers, you will find that much of what we do on the inside is geared toward preparing our inmates for successful re-entry into our communities. You have an important job ahead of you.”

On June 18th, K9 Kalle lost his battle with lymphoma. Kalle was six years old and had been a member of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office since November of 2008.

Kalle, a Dutch Shepherd, was the K9 law enforcement partner of Deputy Sheriff Tracy. In addition to his law enforcement career, Kalle always enjoyed taking part in K9 demonstrations in front of school children and citizen groups.

Kalle will be missed by his family, fellow K9s, members of the Sheriff's Office and the citizens he spent his career serving.

          Many people travel during the summertime, so Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco has prepared some safety tips to ensure your home and valuables are protected while you are away:

• When leaving home, make sure that all windows and doors are closed and locked.

• Leave an outside light on to give the impression that someone is home, and if you have light timers in the house, program them to go on at random times to fool potential intruders.

• If you have an alarm system, make sure to set it.

• Hide all valuables in the house from plain view; try to put them in a secure location.

•  One of the biggest signs of a family being away on vacation is an overflowing mailbox or a stack of newspapers in the driveway. Put your mail on hold at the post office or have a trusted friend or relative drop by and clear out the mail and papers every day.

• Don’t post online that you are going on vacation because one never knows who could be reading the information.

• Never leave a house key hidden outside of your home. If it is hidden in a pot, under the mat, beneath a rock or in a fake rock, someone else may find it and enter your home while you are away.

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office held its annual awards ceremony on Tuesday, June 25th at the Eagle’s Landing Restaurant in Calverton. Fifty-four deputy sheriffs, correction officers and civilian employees were honored during the evening's festivities.

Sheriff DeMarco joined with Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer to launch "Test , Don't Guess" in the Town of Babylon.  Drug and alcohol testing kits are now available to the general public at the Town Youth Bureau located at 210 Phelps Lane, North Babylon. Contact the Town Youth Bureau at (631) 957-3170 for more information.

 Marine 41 is a new cutting-edge response vessel that was purchased by the Sheriff's Office using a $1.2 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Port Security Grant. The marine unit, which is shared by members of the East End Marine Task Force, is a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive (C.B.R.N.E.) response vessel.

On Saturday, June 15th, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office offered Operation Safe Child ID kits to parents during the town’s annual Kings Park Day. Officers photographed and fingerprinted children and submitted their relevant information to the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services' Amber Alert database. Parents were issued ID cards containing their childrens' name and photo, date of birth, gender, height, weight, hair color, eye color, as well as a fingerprint image of both index fingers. Operation Safe Child is presented at venues throughout Suffolk County year-round.

Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent F. DeMarco and Legislator Kara Hahn have partnered up with Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson to bring awareness to the issue of opioid overdoses and the use of NARCAN as a potentially life-saving drug. Certification trainings are offered to the general public throughout the year.  More information is available on the Sheriff's website. Click on the Narcan link on the left menu of the homepage. The next training is scheduled for July 26th.

On May 21, 2013, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office held a Bike Rodeo and Safety Clinic at the Academy Street Elementary School in Bayport. The Sheriff's bike rodeos teach kids the real world skills they need to ride a bicycle safely. Lessons such as where to ride on the road, how to hand signal, how to safely cross an intersection, and how to properly wear a bicycle helmet are demonstrated by Deputy Sheriffs at each event. To request an event for your school or community group, log onto the Sheriff's website and click on the Community Programs link on the top menu bar.

A memorial service was held on May 24, 2013 to honor 64 of Suffolk’s Correction Officers and Deputy Sheriffs who have died in service since 1887. It was held at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead, New York.